ACOUSTIC SIGNATURE MERLIN NEO – NEW AT TSE

TWO NEW TURNTABLES AT THE SOUND ENVIRONMENT

One is at the level of the very best. That is the Helix One Mk3 from Australian manufacturer, Dohmann. We will tell you more about the Dohmann when it is fully set up in September. We believe it is the best high-performance turntable available today.

Now on to the most affordable high-performance turntable we know of: the new Acoustic Signature Merlin NEO.

ACOUSTIC SIGNATURE NEO

This is not the wizard Merlin of Arthurian legend but rather the wizard Merlin NEO of Acoustic Signature legend.

The Merlin NEO has arrived at our shores and will be on display in our Omaha and Kansas City Showrooms soon. We will be fitting cartridges for demo shortly and will deploy the full record players for demo in the next few days. We will let you know when they are set up and ready to demonstrate.

Much of Acoustic Signature’s technology has been employed in the Merlin NEO, making it, we believe, the finest turntable anywhere near its price of $5,000. The Merlin Neo includes the TA-500 NEO tonearm, which can be purchased by itself for $2,295. Please see technical details of the Merlin Neo below.

Acoustic Signature turntables range in price from $5,000 for the Merlin NEO to about $260,000.

All Acoustic Signature turntables boast a 15-year warranty. Acoustic Signature is a 30-year-old German Company.

Merlin NEO being setup by one of our expert analog guys, Zach Born

The Acoustic Signature Merlin NEO is a high-mass (38lbs), belt-drive turntable – an extraordinary value at $5,000. The Merlin NEO was released for Acoustic Signature’s 30th anniversary as the successor to the 2016 Merlin. The Merlin NEO borrows technology from the more expensive, more refined Acoustic Signature turntables. It boasts an isolated external motor, advanced vibration control, and adjustable GEL-damped feet.

Precision is everything – Merlin NEO being setup by one of our expert analog guys, Zach Born

CARTRIDGES

We will fit the cartridge of your choice to exacting standards without any additional charge. We feel that this turntable is worthy of the Dynavector 20X2A (L or H) at $1,450.00 or even better. The minimum cartridge we would recommend is the Hana EH/EL at $475. Our turntable experts will guide your choice.

Cartridge setup is CRITICAL! We do it for you

TECHNICAL DETAILS

The Merlin NEO utilizes AVC level 1, CLD, DTD. All developed by Acoustic Signature.

These acronyms are defined by Acoustic Signature as follows:

AVC (level 1) – Automatic Vibration Control

This is an electronic method of reducing vibration in the drive motor.

CLD – Constraint Layer Damping

Constraint Layer Dam­ping is a mecha­nical engi­nee­ring method for the absorp­tion or mini­mi­zation of vibra­tions. Another way to describe it is materials that have different resonances are bonded together which dramatically constraints total resonance.

“A cart­ridge will only track a record unaffec­ted, if it finds a quiet sur­face without reso­nance inter­feren­ces. Accor­dingly, it is neces­sary to deve­lop vibration-free chassis and platter designs – this must be done in addi­tion to the reso­nance-reducing mea­sures for motors, drive and bea­ring cons­truc­tion. In the course of plan­ning and deve­lo­ping our NEO product line, we have been working inten­sively on impro­ving our CLD con­cept.”

DTD – Dura Turn Diamond Bearing

Acoustic Signature says “The bearing is the heart of every turn­table. With the new, main­te­nance-free Acoustic Signa­ture Dura Turn Diamond® bearing, we have suc­cee­ded again in mini­mizing the unavoi­dable noise level caused by the mecha­nical move­ment of the bearing. At the same time a spindle with a diamond-like hard sur­face redu­ces the friction coeffi­cient by 60 (!) percent – optimal condi­tions for world-class sound!”

It takes special tools, experience, and a good ear to finalize a good cartridge setup

These technologies developed for the whole line of Acoustic Signature turntables are incorporated in the Merlin NEO at the level appropriate for the model. Unlike some manufacturers who don’t pay much attention to their entry-level products other than the price, Acoustic Signature has utilized their whole experience to build an extraordinary turntable at an extraordinary price.

Please pardon my enthusiasm, but believe me, this turntable is worth it.

As good as this turntable is, there are options to even further improve performance. Check with our consultants, if that interests you.